Luis Salazar has surgery after liner

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Atlanta Braves minor league manager Luis Salazar has undergone surgery and was scheduled for more after being hit in the face by Brian McCann's foul liner while standing in the dugout during an exhibition game.

Hainje said "it may be another day or two before we have final clarification on everything they had to do."

McCann did not play Thursday when the Braves took on the St. Louis Cardinals. Atlanta manager Fredi Gonzalez said he expected McCann to be in the lineup on Friday when the Braves play the New York Yankees in Tampa.

McCann took himself out of Wednesday's game moments after the accident before going to the hospital and was with Salazar's family.

"Yesterday was a tragic day," McCann told reporters at the Braves' camp on Thursday. "It's just a helpless, sick feeling."

McCann said he was thankful to hear Salazar had not sustained any brain damage.

"You just think the worst could have happened and it didn't," he said.

Salazar will have to undergo testing to determine damage to his left eye.

"We feel very fortunate and blessed that Louie is alive and that he is responding and able to communicate with his family and talk," Braves general manager Frank Wren told reporters Wednesday. "We just pray for the best as he continues these tests and evaluations and whatever else is ahead of him. "

Wren said Salazar was unconscious when an ambulance drove onto the field in the first inning to help the 54-year-old former big leaguer. Wren said Salazar was hit around the nose, toward his left eye.

Salazar was struck while standing on the top step of the first-base dugout. The Braves said Salazar's son, who was at the game, and his wife, who was not in attendance, also went to the hospital.

Chipper Jones was on first base when the accident occurred. He said Salazar was leaning against a dugout railing and toppled backward, hitting his head on the concrete floor.

"There were two things," Jones said. "First he got hit, then he fell backward and hit his head on the floor of the dugout. It was bad enough when he got hit but worse when he hit the floor."